Prince Harry to Get a Cup of Iraqi Tea?

Prince Harry to be sent to Iraq

Harry, a second lieutenant, is a tank commander trained to lead a 12-man team [Reuters]

April 30, 2007

The British army's top general says he has decided Prince Harry will go to Iraq.

But General Richard Dannatt, the army chief of staff, stressed the decision would be kept under review and urged the media to stop speculating about his deployment.

"The decision has been taken by myself that he will deploy in due course," Dannatt said.

He spoke after newspaper reports cited unidentified senior military officials as saying an army review was likely to lead to Harry being banned from the battlefield, although he could still do a desk job.

"I would urge that the somewhat frenzied media activity surrounding this particular story should cease in the interests of the overall security of all our people deployed in Iraq," Dannatt said.

Clarence House, Prince Charles' London office, would not comment on Dannatt's statement.

Harry, a second lieutenant, is a tank commander trained to lead a 12-man team in four armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

If deployed, he would become the first royal to serve in a war zone since his uncle, Prince Andrew, flew as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands war against Argentina in 1982.

Threats

The defence ministry has said the prince could be kept out of situations where his presence could jeopardise his comrades.

Iraqi fighters have threatened to kill or kidnap the 22-year-old prince, including claims his photograph had been widely circulated among fighters.

Military leaders accept that the third in line to the throne would be an attractive target for fighters and that his presence could lead to a surge in attacks on British forces.

After graduating from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst last year, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana said he wanted an opportunity to serve his country.